Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding immunization among family practice patients

Objective: To determine the knowledge, attitude and practices about immunization among family practice patients. Design: A questionnaire based survey. Patients and Method: A questionnaire was developed in line with the study objectives. It was administered to patients visiting family physicians, after they were administered, informed consent and assurance with regards to confidentiality was provided. Epi-info and SPSS software was used for data management. Results: A total of 97 patients were surveyed. The majority were men (59.8%) with a mean age of 29.69 years. Majority was unmarried (51.5%), with graduate and post-graduate education (73%), and in government and private service (48%). Vaccination was believed to prevent disease by 94%. Majority was informed about immunization by doctors and parents (94%). Media provided information about immunization to 62% of the patients. A 58% would recommend vaccination to others. Source about harmful effects of immunization was provided by friends and parents (80%). Hurdles against immunization were lack of education and lack of funds according to 43 (45%) and 29 (30%) respondents respectively. Education of population and mothers were ways to promote immunization according to 23 (24%) and 19 (20%) respondents respectively. Immunization exists against Hepatitis C and Malaria according to 35 (36%) and 10 (10%) respondents respectively. Immunization were received against polio, measles and hepatitis B by 86 (89%), 51 (53%) and 26 (27%) respondents respectively. Conclusion: The study results have identified a strong need for education program for the masses about immunization, since major deficiencies have been identified. Further studies are strongly recommended along with debate on this important public health issue

Combined experimental and theoretical study of poly(aniline-co-pyrrole) oligomer

Quantum mechanical calculations are performed to establish the structure of an oligomer of aniline and pyrrole [Poly(Ani-co-Py)], through comparison of experimental and theoretically calculated properties, including conductivity. The copolymer was synthesized through chemical oxidative polymerization and then confirmed from the experimental IR, UV-vis, mass spectra, elemental, XRD, TGA, and SEM analysis. Quantum mechanical calculations are performed at Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) methods for the electronic and spectroscopic properties of the oligomer. A very nice correlation is found between the theory and experiment which consequences the structure of Poly(Ani-co-Py). Poly(Ani-co-Py) is not explored like other conducting polymers; however, by tuning this molecular structure, the electro-active nature of this material can be enhanced adequately

Demographic and Clinical Features of Dengue Fever in Pakistan from 2003–2007: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Demographic features of dengue fever have changed tremendously in Pakistan over the past two decades. Small scale studies from all over the country have reported different aspects of individual outbreaks during this time. However, there is scarcity of data looking at the overall trend of dengue virus infection in the country. In this study, we examined annual trends, seasonality, and clinical features of dengue fever in the Pakistani population.Methods: Demographic information and dengue IgM status of all patients tested for dengue IgM antibody at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2003 to December 2007 were analyzed to look for trends of IgM-positive cases in Pakistan. In addition, clinical and biochemical parameters were abstracted retrospectively from medical records of all patients hospitalized with IgM-proven dengue fever between January 2006 and December 2007. These patients were categorized into dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever according to the WHO severity grading scale.Results: Out of a total of 15040 patients (63.2% male and 36.8% female), 3952 (26.3%) tested positive for dengue IgM antibody. 209 IgM proven dengue patients were hospitalized during the study period. During 2003, IgM positive cases were seen only during the months of July-December. In contrast, such cases were detected throughout the year from the 2004– 2007. The median age of IgM positive patients decreased every year from 32.0 years in 2003 to 24.0 years in 2007 (p,0.001). Among hospitalized patients, nausea was the most common presenting feature found in 124/209 (59.3%) patients. Children presented with a higher median body temperature than adults (p = 0.010). In addition, neutropenia was seen more commonly in children while raised serum ALT levels were seen more commonly in adults (both p = 0.006). While a low total white cell count was more common in patients with dengue fever as compared to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (p = 0.020), neutropenia (p = 0.019), monocytosis (p = 0.001) and raised serum ALT level (p = 0.005) were observed more commonly in the latter group.Conclusions: Dengue virus is now endemic in Pakistan, circulating throughout the year with a peak incidence in the post monsoon period. Median age of dengue patients has decreased and younger patients may be more susceptible. Total and differential leukocyte counts may help identify patients at risk of hemorrhage

Impact of working status on their lives: a survey of working women at a teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

Objective: To study the impact of working status on the lives of working women.Methodology: A questionnaire based cross sectional survey was conducted at the Family Practice Center, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from July to December 2006. The Questionnaire included data on the demographic profile of the patient and questions in line with study objectives. Ethical requirement including the administration of written informed consent and the provision of confidentiality were ensured. SPSS computer software was used for data analysis. Results: Two hundred working women were interviewed. The mean age was 29.05 years. A majority was married (53.5%) with more than grade XII education (67%). Sixty three (31.5%) women were working due to need and eighty three (41.5%) were finding it difficult to carry out home responsibilities because of it. Extra understanding and support was received from family by 155 (77.5%) and 115 (57.5%) women respectively. One hundred twenty three (61.5%) women felt they did not have enough time for themselves. The status of working women is better than non-working women according to 123 (61.5%) respondents. Financial benefits outweigh other disadvantages according to 105 (52.5%) respondents. Marriage prospects of working women and their children are better than non-working women and their children according to eighty one (40.5%) and eighty (40%) respondents respectively. Confidence in working women is higher than non-working women according to 142 (71%) respondents. Eighty one (40.5%) respondents feel that working women’s financial independence has negative impact on theirs husband’s self esteem. Conclusions: Working women find it difficult to carryout their home responsibilities. There is need for further studies on how to improve the working conditions and home situation for working women in our society

DFT Study of Polyaniline NH₃, CO₂, and CO Gas Sensors: Comparison with Recent Experimental Data

Density functional theory studies (DFT) have been carried out to evaluate the ability of polyaniline emeraldine salt (PANI ES) from 2 to 8 phenyl rings as sensor for NH₃, CO₂, and CO. The sensitivity and selectivity of <i>n</i>PANI ES among NH₃, CO₂, and CO are studied at UB3LYP/6-31G­(d) level of theory. Interaction of <i>n</i>PANI ES with CO is studied from both O (CO(1)) and C (CO(2)) sides of CO. Interaction energy, NBO, and Mulliken charge analysis were used to evaluate the sensing ability of PANI ES for different analytes. Interaction energies are calculated and corrected for BSSE. Large forces of attraction in <i>n</i>PANI ES-NH₃ complexes are observed compared to <i>n</i>PANI ES–CO₂, <i>n</i>PANI ES-CO(1), and <i>n</i>PANI ES-CO(2) complexes. The inertness of ⁺CO^– in <i>n</i>PANI ES-CO(1) and <i>n</i>PANI ES-CO(2) complexes are also discussed. Frontier molecular orbitals and energies indicate that NH₃ changes the orbital energy of <i>n</i>PANI ES to a greater extent compared to CO₂, CO(1), and CO(2). Peaks in UV–vis and UV–vis–near-IR spectra of <i>n</i>PANI ES are blue-shifted upon doping with NH₃, CO₂, CO(1), and CO(2) which illustrates dedoping of PANI ES to PANI emeraldine base (PANI EB). Finally, it is concluded that PANI ES has greater response selectivity toward NH₃ compared to CO₂ and CO and it is consistent with the experimental observations

Density Functional Theory Study of Poly(<i>o</i>‑phenylenediamine) Oligomers

Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations have been performed to gain insight into the structure of poly­(<i>o</i>-phenylenediamine) (POPD). Both reported structures of POPD, ladder (L)- and polyaniline (P)-like, are investigated theoretically through the oligomers approach. The simulated vibrational properties of 5POPD­(L) and 5POPD­(P) at B3LYP/6-31G (d) along with their assignments are correlated with experimental frequencies. Vibrational spectra show characteristic peaks for both POPD­(L) and POPD­(P) structures and do not provide any conclusive evidence. Excited-state properties such as band gap, ionization potential, electron affinities, and HOMO–LUMO gaps of POPD­(L) and POPD­(P) from monomers to five repeating units are simulated. UV–vis spectra are simulated at the TD-B3LYP/6-31+G (d, p) level of theory, supportive to the ladder-like structure as the major contributor. Comparison of the calculated data with the experimental one strongly suggests that the ladder-like structure is the predominant contributor to the molecular structure of POPD; however, a small amount of POPD­(P) is also believed to be present

Doping and Dedoping Processes of Polypyrrole: DFT Study with Hybrid Functionals

Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations at the UB3LYP/6-31G­(d) level have been performed to investigate the tunable nature, i.e., doping and dedoping processes, of polypyrrole (PPy). The calculated theoretical data show strong correlation with the recent experimental reports, which validates our computational protocol. The calculated properties are extrapolated to the polymer (PPy) through a second-order polynomial fit. Changes in band gap, conductivity, and resistance of <i>n</i>Py and <i>n</i>Py-X (where <i>n</i> = 1–9 and X = +, NH₃, and Cl) were studied and correlated with the calculated vibrational spectra (IR) and electronic properties. Upon doping, bridging bond distance and internal bond angles decrease (decrease in resistance over polymer backbone), whereas dedoping results in increases in these geometric parameters. In the vibrational spectrum, doping is characterized by an increase in the band peaks in the fingerprint region and/or red shifting of the spectral bands. Dedoping (9Py⁺ with NH₃), on the other hand, results in decreases in the number of vibrational spectral bands. In the UV–vis and UV–vis–near-IR spectra, the addition of different analytes (dopant) to 9Py results in the disappearance of certain bands and gives rise to some new absorbances corresponding to localized and delocalized polaron bands. Specifically, the peaks in the near-IR region at 1907 nm for Py⁺ and 1242 nm for 9Py-Cl are due to delocalized and localized polaron structures, respectively. Upon p-doping, the band gaps and resistance of <i>n</i>Py decrease, while its conductivity and π-electron density of conjugation increase over the polymeric backbone. However, a reversal of properties is obtained in n-doping or reduction of <i>n</i>Py⁺. In the case of oxidation and Cl dopant, the IP and EA increase, and consequently, there is a decrease in the band gap. NBO and Mulliken charges analyses indicate charge transferring from the polymer in the case of p-type dopants, while this phenomenon is reversed with n-type dopants